The guide service
The help I can provide can be roughly divided
in three categories:
Help you decide on a walk or tour that suits your abilities and interests
This aspect tends to get a little overlooked but in Crete there is such a wide choice of walks (have a look at some of the examples on the home page) that it is difficult to decide what is suitable without trial and error. I am quite capable of assessing your condition and experience by asking you a few questions and will then offer you some suggestions as to what may be suitable and in accordance with your interests. The time of the year and weather conditions are of course also a factor.
Help you with getting there and if necessary finding the right accommodation at the right price
Getting to the starting point
of a walk is not always simple, even if you
have your own car (how do you do it unless
you come back to your starting point?). Sometimes
it is better to use public transport, sometimes
a taxi. But taxis will refuse to drive on
an unsurfaced road: how do you find a local
who brings you to where you want to go? On
some walks (I am thinking of Pachnes in particular
but there are others) it can save you a day's
walking, or several hours on a tedious gravel
road in the burning sun.
There are not always simple solutions but
I am more likely to know the ins and outs
of getting transport to a specific point and
back than most.
I also know where to find suitable accommodation
if required.
Guide you on the walk or tour
Guiding a walk does not only
consists of getting people safely from A to
B. You also need to know alternatives in case
of sudden weather changes or other difficulties,
know where to find water. I will also provide
you with a list of things that you need to
take with you according to the walk and time
of the year.
A good guide also needs to be able to provide
information about the surroundings, the people,
customs, history and I believe I am quite
knowledgeable.
How much does it cost?
I charge € 130 per day (plus
accommodation and food expenses for trips
lasting several days) If you want to hire
me on your own it is not cheap but shared
through two or more it is money well-spent.
This will of course include discussing your
wishes and providing you with the necessary
information prior to your walk or tour.
On some very arduous walks (winter crossings of the White Mountains or if you want to cross them in one day in the summer for example) I may want to charge more. I may also charge less if it is something which does not take a whole day. Just email me and ask.